SPORTING.

Marlborough Daily Times, Volume III, Issue 289, 26 September 1881, Page 2

SPORTING.

RACING FIXTURES, 1881. September 30.—GeraMine (Canterbury) Annual October 7.—Alraam’-n (Otago) Annual. October 11.—Hawke's Jsay .T. C. Spring. October 12.—Hawke's Bay Racin'' Club Spr'-ig. October 11. —Duntroon (Ota"o) Annual. October 21.—Wnngnmii (Wellington) Spring. November !).—AVuverley - Waitotara (AA'ellington) Animal. November 8,10, 11.—Canterbury Spring Meeting. November 3).—AA’eU'ngton Spring. December 5, 6.—Oanmru (Otago) Spring. December 15,1(5. —-Southland Annua'. December 2(s.—AYnirau Annual. LOCAL ITEMS. NOTES BY A.M.C. It is not an uncommon thing, in our days, to find tacked on to the account of a race, coining from Home, an announcement of the munificent present made by the owner of the winning horse to the jockey who may, or may not, have contributed a great deal to the victory ; and the more lordly the generosity, the more praise generally is the tone in which mention is made of it. I have heard persons who were able to speak with authority upon the subject, who did not hesitate to lament over the mischievous tendency of such liberality towards the jockey. At Home, according to accounts, a jockey never sees the animal he rides till a few minutes before the start, and in about as many minutes afterwards he is presented with a thousand or two for riding, be it well or badly. New Zealand is different to the Home country in that respect. lam well aware that jockeys here are used to passing a deal of money through their hands, if not at racing, witli cards, billiards, and other games of chance, but very few get more than whatis agreed upon before they start—perhaps ten pounds. I trust owners of raceliorses, in New Zealand, will never start it, but will go along as they have been doing, for a more absurd and ridiculous thing I never heard tell of than of giving a big sum to a jockey simply because he gets the privilege of riding a good animal, who could win with an inferior man up,

I paid a visit of inspection to the Masonic stables prior to Mr Chas. Carter leaving for Kaikoura, and had a view of his thoroughbred entire horse, Dan O’Connell. He is. without doubt, as good-looking a horse as any placed at the service of Colonial breeders. There are lines of breeding in him that should suit the most fastidious students of equine lore. He is a bright bay, stands about 10.} hands high, long and low, with a good set of legs under him. I am surprised at a son of Dan O’Rorke’s (dam Plover) going to travel a district like the Kaikouras, for I am confident it is no good enough for the horse, neither is it remunerative enough for the owner. I hear that a number of our local breeders will send their mares to Kaikoura for him. This speaks volumes for the horse. It is Mr Carter’s intention to send him for the Marlborough Cup this year, and should he do so, I feel confident (if fit and well on the day), lie will not {disgrace the colors of his owner. A match, for LlO a-side, came off on Saturday afternoon, on the training ground in front of Mr Thomas Redwood’s between ;Mr J. Barry’s South Star and Mr P. O’Sullivan’s Barney, owners lip. Mr C. Elliott acted as starter and judge. A good start was effected, but despite Mr Barry’s usual good horsemanship, Barney won a close race by a length. South Star was in very had condition, and I was rather surprised at our sporting publican attempting to race an animal in so low a state. I was informed by one who ought to know, that he had beeii just taken out of the paddock, or he thought the result would have been different. " Barney is by Lillipie, out of Talent’s-dam ; South Star by Lara, out of a well bred mare. The following nominations were received on the 23rd inst., at the Pier Hotel, Wanganui, for the Wanganui Spring Meeting events : —Wanganui Stakes Handicap— Grand Duchess, Slander Filly, Rewi, Banshee, Bylong, Camellia, Mufti, Prim, Angler, Tartar, Dan, Blue Gown, and Merlin. Hurdles - Abolition, Angler, Monk, Tartar, Hawthorne, Chandler, Raven, and Morning Star. The acceptances and general entries close on October 10th. Mr George Stevenson’s handsome waggonette, drawn for by art union, on Thursday evening was won by Mr George Houhlsworth, proprietor of the Masonic Hotel Blenheim. I am given to understand that Mr Charles HaUiday, that energetic cricketing sportsman, received a challenge by telegram from Mr Northcreft, captain of the Bohemian Cricket Club, Wellington, offering to play a match on November 9th. I believe the challenge will be accepted. This is getting an annual affair, and all lovers of the noble game look forward to this meet with pleasure.

The general meeting of the Telegraph Rowing Club took place on Saturday night, when the report of Committee was placed on the table and read. The following officers were elected for the coming season: —President, Mr S. McAllister ; vice and treasurer, Mr E. Ballard ; secretary, Mr S. Cummings ; captain, Mr S. Connolly ; committee, Messrs Vine, Henderson, Baxter, Wyatt, and Woods. The Committee were authorised to purchase a new four-oar inrigged boat, and also if possible to get a cottpie of pair-oared inriggers. A vote of thanks to the past Committee terminated theprocecdings. A meeting of the Blenheim Telegraph Cricket Clubpvas held on Saturday night, 21 members being present. Mr T. Baxter was voted to the chair. It was proposed “ that owing to some of onr best players seceding from the club, and joining the Star Cricket Club, it is deemed inadvisable to carry on the club, as a representative Telegraph team could not lie organised.” The resolution was carried, members expressing regret that such a course had to be adopted. A vote of thanks to the chairman terminated the proceedings. It is reported that Somnus is at 6 to 1 for the Melbourne Derby. The Wanganui Jockey Club has endorsed the Victoria Racing Club’s disqualification of Mata and Ray. I learn that Mr W. Waters will send Grand Duchess and the Leander filly to represent him at the Wanganui, Waverley, and Rsngitikei meetings. Foul Play, Badsworth, and several other high-class performers will visit to take part in the Spring Meeting. It appears the Turf Reyiste.r will not make its appearance before October. Messrs Mason and Vallance’s racehorse Morpheus is for sale. He is full brother to Lurline and Le Loup. Ariel has been bought for L3SO by Mr S. Buckland.

Ada has been scratched for all her engagements at the Hawke’s Bay Jockey Club Spring Meeting, Moonstone lias been backed to win LIOOO in the coming Auckland Gup. Don Juan lias been sold to the Mayor of Auckland for L7I. Mata takes his usual walking exercise now that lie lias thoroughly recovered from the severe cold lie had. Le Loup is looking well, and his party hove been hacking him of late for the Canterbury J. C. Handicap and Cup. lam of opinion Le Loup will not stand the preparation. The reason Mr Mclvor could not get a mount on the Grand National events, Melbourne, is said to have been on account of Mr W. Weston, bookmaker. Mclvor, prior to leaving New Zealand would not settle his sporting w agers, and Weston wrote to Australia and got judgment W against him, thus preventing him from riding there. I believe several owners wanted to get him up. Mr W. Weston tried hard to get him stopped from riding last March in Wanganui, but the Wanganui Jockey Club would not entertain it, hut suggested that the case should he submitted to soma betting tribunal.

1 lie latest Canterbury, betting is as follows Cup : 100 to 28 against Mata ; 100 to 20, Peeress colt; 100 to 10, Dauphin; 100 to 15, Le Loup ; 100 to 12 against any other. Derby : 100 to 25 against Dauphin and Peeress colt; 100 to 15, Louis D’Or, Hinemoa, Nonpareil; 100 to 12, Amulet, La Mode, Matakau ; 100 to 10, Rawdon, J. C. Handicap : 100 to 15 against Grip and Libeller; 100 to 12, Envy filly and Nonpareil ; 100 to 10, Le Loup, Volunteer, Lady Emma, On Dit, Governor, Luna, Louis D’Or, and Lure ; 100 to 9, Matakau; 100 to S, Chancellor, Legerdemain, La Mode, and Blue Jacket. The Wanganui Trotting Club have very wisely decided to hold their Meet on the day after the Jockey Club’s Spring Meeting, which takes place on October 21st. I wish this young Club every success, and I sincerely trust they will get a good field of starters from all parts of New Zealand for the different events. Our New Zealand horses, Sir Modred, Somnuß, Idalium, and Hilarious, have been doing a bit of a flutter on the Flemingtou race course of late. The correspondent of the Tasmanian Mail says :—“ Idalium and Hilarious did a modest gallop, after which the Derby aud Cup team did an excellent spin once round the outer track. Nobody will ever convince me (until the day) that Sir Modred will win the Gup with Sst-llbs, or that he it as good a horse as the old vet. Mata, who only carried Sat. 21bs. last Cup.”